Promote: Guam needs more programs that connect residents, immigrants

Team Youth Micronesia took part in a demonstration along Marine Corps Drive in Dededo to raise awareness about ending violence.

A local effort to increase police presence in the villages is also promoting closer bonds between village residents, including regional immigrants, and should be expanded.

The government's public safety "strike force," which was formed by the governor in January, also is also encouraging residents, including regional immigrants, to take ownership of their villages and build relationships between the public and law enforcement, said Crime Stoppers coordinator Officer Paul Tapao.

People are encouraged to participate in crime-watch programs and other community events, such as kickball games and pot-lucks -- all in effort to welcome those who might otherwise feel excluded from the community.

The program is connecting residents, encouraging them to work together and helping regional migrants with the process of settling into their new home.

The program also encourages people to see past the labels attached to regional migrants. Organizers say there can be negative stereotypes, but regional migrants who are part of the program remind us that the bad apples don't represent everyone.

We need more programs like this. Elected officials, village mayors and other government officials must work more closely with community leaders and organizations that cater to migrant needs to make this happen.

The programs should promote the values expressed by Darrel Akira, a Chuukese community leader who moved to Guam in 2011. He hopes the programs promote, "Ekichu, Tipechu, Angechu," which is similar to the Chamorro concept of "Inafa'maolek."

The phrase promotes the betterment of the whole community, he said. The first part, ekichu, refers to the head. Tipechu refers to the heart and angechu refers to hands, and putting the head and heart into action.

"We get together and use what's in our head and give all our ideas to accomplish something," he said. "We put our hands together."

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Promote: Guam needs more programs that connect residents, immigrants

A local effort to increase police presence in the villages is also promoting closer bonds between village residents, including regional immigrants, and should be expanded.The government's public